Well, at least in Europe it's not really a secret that it is a Chrysler engine which gets reworked (mostly different cylinder head) by Ferrari, but yes, It's not exactly front page advertised;

I honestly don't think that the American perception of Alfa-Romeo and Maserati is so entrenched that a $45K Hemi Giulia and a $75K Hellcat Ghibli would seem sacrilegious and then factor in the history of Italian exotics with American engines. The Hellcat would transform the Quattroporte as well. The V8 will bolt into a Ghibli, but the hood has to be altered. Maserati even let it be known several times that a V8 Ghibli was in the works but it never materialized.

If no one knew of his health issues it's because Marchionne wanted it that way, but how horribly irresponsible. A responsible CEO may have kept it quiet and then fast tracked a successor who started appearing with the CEO and who would take on more work behind the scenes. If Marchionne hid this, it begs the question as to what other horrors in FCA will bubble to the surface. The complete lack of successful new product outside of Jeep and Ram is a massive red flag. Manley finding a merger or buyout partner is no doubt paramount.

If no one knew of his health issues it's because Marchionne wanted it that way, but how horribly irresponsible.

I can't label it the same way. I don't know how I would react if I had the same diagnosis. One only knows when it happens. I am wondering if the quest to find a partner for FCA was fueled by what he was going through.

I can't label it the same way. I don't know how I would react if I had the same diagnosis. One only knows when it happens. I am wondering if the quest to find a partner for FCA was fueled by what he was going through.

It's called responsibility. Of course a person in isolation may not want people to know, but when you're the CEO of a massive international company with thousands of employees and you need for secrecy blindsides them and leaves them in the lurch, that's the definition of irresponsible.

As for his quest to find a partner, he ran off offers from VWAG, Hyundai-Kia, GAC, and Geely (rumored). If finding a partner was his goal, he didn't know how to close the deal.

Manley will need to find a partner ASAP because aside from Jeep and Ram, the rest of FCA is a dire mess of old products (300, Charger, Journey, Challenger, Durango), aging products (Grand Cherokee, Ghibli, Quattroporte), and new products that sell poorly for their segments (Levante, Giulia, Stelvio, Pacifica).

It's called responsibility. Of course a person in isolation may not want people to know, but when you're the CEO of a massive international company with thousands of employees and you need for secrecy blindsides them and leaves them in the lurch, that's the definition of irresponsible.
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I hear what you’re saying, and partially agree. A true CEO with a strong board have a solid succession plan in place in case the CEO ‘gets hit by a bus and dies’ scenario. Even someone as authoritarian as what Sergio was. The FCA board and he knew who would take over the reins (or at least were 75% sure)... Hence his replacement was promptly announced.

This said, there is a human aspect of an unexpected death that weighs on a company; productivity goes down as people mourn. Quality suffers as people are in shock and not 100% on their game. This happens from his direct reports to people sweeping the floors at the factories. The flip side is that tells your staff of your illness good very well create the same outcome; with an added measure of fear (what does the future hold if he dies / etc). Further, it gives people your negotiating with a “we can wait it out and see what happens if he has to leave the company” advantage. I suspect Sergio knew all this, and decided that a short term shock was better than the alternative. And he likely chalked it up to “it’s my health and therefore nobody else’s business” attitude (which is certainly par for his course)